School-bus drivers compete in road-course rodeo | Eastern NC Now

    Some familiar faces landed in the Top 3 for the annual 2011 Beaufort County Transportation Department's School Bus Rodeo on April 19.

    Jimmy Ward, a veteran driver for John Cotten Tayloe Elementary School in Washington, took top honors once the scores were tallied. Ward, who is completing his 13th year as a school-bus driver for Beaufort County Schools, has placed in the top-three slots for four of the past six years.

    Second place went to last-year's winner, Carlton Roberson, who drives for Washington High School. With one win, Roberson has finished among the top-three positions for three of the past four years.

    Along with bus driving, Both Ward and Roberson also serve Beaufort County Schools as custodians at Washington High School.

    Vera Goss, who drives for P.S. Jones Middle School, took third place this year. Goss has placed in the top-three finalists for three of the past five years. Goss is a teacher's assistant at P.S. Jones Middle School.

    First- and second-place winners will advance to the district-level competition on May 4 in Nashville. Winners at the regional level will then go to the state competition in Raleigh at the end of the month.

    Thirty drivers participated in this year's competition.

Spencer Pake, assistant principal at Chocowinity Primary School, took on the new portion of the local rodeo course, the tennis balls. Drivers had to take their tires on one side of the bus through the line of tennis balls. The goal was to go through without disturbing any of the balls. A handfull of drivers managed to do just that. (inset photo) Mr. Pake was not so lucky.